A new Northwestern University study found that about 85% of people with long COVID-19 experience long-term symptoms, including neurological symptoms.
- The study looked at the most common symptoms for long-haulers, separating them into neurological and non-neurological.
By CNN, the most common neurological symptoms include:
- Brain fog (81%)
- Headache (68%)
- Numbness or tingling (60%)
- Loss or altered taste (59%)
- Smell loss (55%)
- The study suggested that dizziness, pain and blurred vision were also potential neurological symptoms.
According to CNN, the most common non-neurological symptoms for the study’s long-haulers included:
- Fatigue (85%)
- Depression / anxiety (47%)
- Shortness of breath (46%)
- Chest pain (37%)
- Insomnia (33%)
Larger photo
The New York Times reports that the study found that survivors of COVID-19 ended up experiencing long-term neurological symptoms months after diagnosis.
Dr. Igor J. Koralnik, Northwestern Medicine’s chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology, told The New York Times that symptoms came out of nowhere for many patients.
- “We are seeing people who are really highly functional individuals, used to multitasking all the time and being on top of their game, but suddenly, it is really a struggle for them,” he said.
Experts recommend further research on long-distance vehicles so that patients can find the help they need, which I wrote for Deseret News.